Improvement in shoes



M. R. BODKIN.

SHOES.

Patented July-18,1876.

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IN NT ATTIJBNEYS.

N PETERS, PMDTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTPN, n C,

have invented a new-and Improved Shoe, of

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

MARTIN B. BODKIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT lN SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,891, dated July 18, 1876; application filed March 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN R. BODKIN, of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey,

which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 represents a. perspective view of my improved shoe, and Fig. 2 is a detail section of the tongue and reversible flap.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention is an improvement in the class of button gaiters or shoes. Heretofore the practice has been to provide such shoes with a single row of buttons and a single folding flap, having a corresponding number of button-holes, or with two rows of button-holes and two folding flaps. In both cases, however, the edge of the flaps is subject to rapid wear by reason of friction with the bottom of the pants, and is also liable to be torn in the operation of buttoning, and to be otherwise abraded or injured. According to my invention a single row of buttons is attached to the tongue or center-piece of the shoe, and each of the two flaps is proi'ided with button-holes, and likewise so formed and attached to the shoe as to adapt it to be buttoned over or under the other flap. Hence, when the edge of one flap is worn, abraded, or otherwise injured, it may be buttoned under the other flap, which, not having been subject to wear, is fresh and new in appearance.

In the drawing, A represents the tongue of a ladys or childs shoe, arranged at the front part of the same. The tongue A has a row of buttons for applying thereto either of the either of thefiaps may be attached to the tongue.

This admits of the reversal of the flaps when the shoes are Worn out at one side, so that they can be changed, and thereby the less Worn side exposed to wear. When the flap (J is applied to the tongue, as in Fig. 1, the flap B forms the greater closing part, that is opened and closed, in the usual manner in buttonsh'oes, until the shoe is worn at the side. To exchange the shoes the flap \(J is unbuttoned and the flap B applied in its stead, as shown in Fg. 2,Which reversing of flaps admits of the changing of the shoes from right to left, and their opening and closing by the flap 0 until they are completely Wornout at both sides. Thus a considerable saving is made in childrens shoes, which are at present in many cases thrown away after being worn out on one side only.

The tongue may be padded to give a good shape to the instep, and is prevented by the buttoning from falling at the side as in laced shoes. Y

- Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A shoe having a front tongue, provided with a row of buttons and with reversible flaps having corresponding button-holes, substantially as specified.

MARTIN R. BODKIN.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, T. B. MosHER. 

